Los Angeles Blade, Volume 08, Issue 04, February 09, 2024

(Photo courtesy Eric Siddall)

Out DDA Eric Siddall hopes to replace LA District Attorney Gascón

FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • VOLUME 08 • ISSUE 04 • AMERICA’S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

CALIFORNIA

Medical debt increases in LA County to more than $2.9 billion

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released an update for its report, Medical Debt in LA County: Baseline Report and Action Plan, which found that total medical debt burden now exceeds $2.9 billion with an approximate $300 million increase from 2021 to 2022.

Medical debt continues to affect approximately 1 in 10 adults in LA County in 2022, similar to the prevalence of major health conditions such as asthma and diabetes.

Insurance Expansion Failed to Curb Debt With expanding insurance coverage and the Public Health Emergency protections for COVID-19, the percentage of uninsured residents dropped by approximately 13% from 2021 to 2022. However, during the same time period, medical debt still increased, indicating that insurance expansion, while important for healthcare access, has not fully addressed the underlying factors contributing to medical debt.

Mirroring trends observed during COVID-19, medical debt has disproportionately impacted vulnerable groups. Latino adults (12.0%), Black adults (11.0%), and American Indian/ Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and multiracial adults (11.3%) were more burdened than White (8.2%) and Asian (6.5%) adults. Adults in households with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (12.2%), from 100-199% FPL (13.3%), and from 200-299% FPL (13.0%), were more burdened by medical debt than those in households with incomes at 300% or more of the FPL (7.5%). In 2022, 300% of the Federal Poverty Level for a family of 4 was $83,250.

Additionally, Medi-Cal recipients were approximately twice as likely to have medical debt than those on Medicare. More than 25% of uninsured adults experience medical debt and were over eight times more likely to be burdened by medical debt than those with Medicare.

Detrimental Effects on Health and Well-being Medical debt remains a priority public health issue, as medical debt impeded patients’ ability to access necessary care and treatment, creating a cycle of health and financial hardship. Adults with medical debt were over three times more likely to skip or delay needed healthcare, and approximately three and a half times more likely to delay or not pick up prescriptions compared to those who were not burdened with medical debt. Additionally, adults with medical debt burden were almost two and a half times more likely to experience food insecurity and over 3 times more likely to experience housing instability.

“Financial security is a key social determinant of health and medical debt erodes a person’s ability to take care of their financial and physical health. The Department of Public Health is working with partners across the county to advance solutions to this distressing issue,” said Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Our coalition of community organizations, hospitals and healthcare plans developed a comprehensive plan, and with leadership from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, we are working together to strengthen protections for health care consumers.”

Strengthening Protections for Health Care Consumers On October 3, 2023, the Board of Supervisors passed a motion recognizing the impact medical debt has on County residents that calls for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, working with coalition members and the Departments of Health Services, Mental Health, Consumer and Business Affairs, Public Social Services, and Economic

Opportunity, County Counsel, and the Chief Executive Office (CEO), to take multiple actions to better understand the extent of medical debt challenges and design solutions to reduce financial hardships.

The following actions will be taken in response to the motion: • Public Health will draft an ordinance to gather data on LA County hospital debt collection and financial assistance activities to highlight hospital best practices.

• Public Health will collaborate with Consumer and Business Affairs to identify policies, practices, and programs to prevent medical debt.

• Public Health will work with the CEO to assess the feasibility for retiring medical debt with funding sources, whether government or philanthropic, similar to programs in Cook County (IL) and New York City.

• In consultation with Public Health and partner County agencies, the CEO Office of Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations will advocate for policy changes that will improve consumer protections and mitigate medical debt.

Data Source This analysis used data from the 2017-2022 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the nation’s largest state-level health survey conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles. Most of the analyses were based on 2019-2022 survey responses from a representative sample of 18,002 adults (18+) in Los Angeles County who were asked if they have had problems paying medical bills for themselves or their household members in the past 12 months.

LA BLADE STAFF

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate forum on LGBTQ+ issues held LOS ANGELES - With the primaries fast approaching, Democratic U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, and Katie Porter pledged their unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community in a pivotal forum held at the Los Angeles LGBT Center on Saturday.

The forum, made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Center, Equality California, and the TransLatin@ Coalition, saw a robust discussion moderated by Dustin Gardiner from Politico and Simha Haddad from the Los Angeles Blade.

Representative Adam Schiff, a stalwart figure in California’s 30th Congressional District, highlighted his extensive record of advocacy and legislative accomplishments. Born and raised in California, Schiff’s journey from federal prosecutor to his current position as a senior member of the House Committee on the Judiciary underscores his commitment to justice and equality. Throughout his tenure, Schiff has championed LGBTQ+ rights, environmental protection, and criminal justice reform, earning accolades for his unwavering dedication to progressive causes.

Representative Katie Porter, known for her relentless advocacy on behalf of consumers and middle-class families, brought her unique perspective to the forefront. A staunch opponent of corporate greed and special interests, Porter’s commitment to ethical governance resonated strongly with the audience. From her groundbreaking work as a consumer

Rep. ADAM SCHIFF answers questions from Politico’s Dustin Gardiner and Simha Haddad from the Los Angeles Blade, Saturday Feb. 3 at Democratic U.S. Senate candidate forum on LGBTQ+ issues held at the LA LGBT Center. (Photo by Roby Sobieski)

protection attorney to her tenure in Congress, Porter’s dedication to fighting for the rights of all Americans has remained unwavering.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a trailblazer in her own right, emphasized the importance of grassroots organizing and coalition-building in advancing LGBTQ+ equality. With a career spanning decades, Lee’s leadership on issues such as poverty alleviation and HIV/AIDS prevention has earned her

02 • FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

widespread acclaim. As the highest-ranking African American woman in Democratic House leadership, Lee continues to be a vocal advocate for marginalized communities, both at home and abroad.

During the forum, the candidates articulated their visions for a more inclusive and equitable future. Schiff vowed to leverage his high-ranking positions and connections to prioritize LGBTQIA+ rights, while Porter emphasized the importance of empathy and compassion in safeguarding the rights of LGBTQIA+ children. Lee called for bold action to defund institutions that fail to uphold the civil rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, underscoring the urgency of the fight for equality.

In their collective pledge of support for the Equality Act, a comprehensive LGBTQ+ rights bill, Schiff, Lee, and Porter reaffirmed their commitment to advancing equality and justice for all. As California’s U.S. Senate race heats up, the candidates’ unwavering dedication to LGBTQ+ rights serves as a testament to the enduring strength of the progressive movement.

As the primaries draw near, Californians have a critical opportunity to elect leaders who will champion LGBTQ+ equality and uphold the values of justice and inclusion. With candidates like Schiff, Lee, and Porter at the forefront, the fight for a more just and equitable future continues unabated.

SIMHA HADDAD

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CALIFORNIA

Out DDA Eric Siddall hopes to replace LA District Attorney Gascón LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall has thrown his hat into the ring in the upcoming election race for Los Angeles County District Attorney, setting the stage for a heated showdown against incumbent George Gascón.

In a recent exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Blade, Siddall outlined his ambitious agenda, emphasizing a targeted approach to law enforcement, innovative solutions for homelessness, and a dedicated infrastructure for the mentally ill.

Siddall v. Gascón Gascón, who has faced criticism and recall attempts for his approach to prosecuting crimes in Los Angeles County, is facing 11 challengers in the primary election, including some of his own prosecutors.

Siddall’s entry into the race comes with a bold critique of Gascón’s handling of violent crime in Los Angeles County, as outlined in his recent digital advertisement titled “Turn the Tide.”

In the ad, Siddall openly lambasts Gascón’s perceived failures in combating the city’s rising violence and pledging to implement robust measures to tackle crime and its underlying causes head-on. Siddall’s critique of Gascón reflects a growing dissatisfaction among residents and The Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA) regarding public safety under DA Gascón’s leadership.

ADDA, representing over 750 Deputy District Attorneys, has taken legal action against Gascón, accusing him of a “systematic and deliberate failure” to adhere to the California Public Records Act (CPRA) and citing a lack of transparency and failure to provide necessary documents.

The lawsuit, filed last week, spans 88 pages and contends that Gascón has consistently declined to comply with the CPRA, citing improper and non-existent legal justifications.

Siddall, who is the only candidate endorsed by ADDA in the race against Gascón, emphasized the need for change within the District Attorney’s office.

"George Gascón’s lack of transparency and his refusal to comply with laws designed to give public access to the inner workings of government organizations are the antithesis of good government,” he told the Blade.

Siddall added that he will uphold transparency in the office if elected. He pledged to fully comply with the CPRA and provide complete transparency on controversial cases, particularly those involving the declination of officer-involved shootings reviewed by prosecutors.

"George Gascón continues to play fast and loose with rules created to promote good government,” Siddall said.

“This latest lawsuit is further proof of his continuous contempt for transparency.”

The lawsuit filed by ADDA against Gascón signals a growing rift within the District Attorney’s office and reflects broader concerns about transparency and accountability in the criminal justice system.

Recent polling data indicates that Siddall’s candidacy presents a substantial challenge to Gascón’s incumbency, with Siddall emerging as a strong contender in a potential head-to-head matchup.

Law enforcement strategy Siddall’s plan, if elected, hinges on a three-pronged strategy. First and foremost, he aims to bolster the law enforcement arm of the DA’s office with the Violence Reduction Division. The Violence Reduction Division would focus on gathering intelligence to uncover the primary instigators behind criminal activities within specific areas. Siddall emphasized the importance of targeting key individuals responsible for orchestrating violent crime syndicates.

“Prison is not meant for everyone,” Siddall stressed. “It is meant for people who are really the drivers of violence.”

He then highlighted the efficacy of arresting select gang leaders and key members, recounting his instrumental role in dismantling the notorious Blythe Street Gang, a criminal organization responsible for a spree of violence that plagued the San Fernando Valley from 2015 to 2018.

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney ERIC SIDDALL speaking at the Galileo Foundation summit on Faith & Philanthropy, held at the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican in October 2022. (Photo Credit: Eric Siddall)

Siddall described the gang’s reign of terror, with 10 to 20 murders attributed to their nefarious activities during the three-year period. Determined to stem the tide of violence, Siddall spearheaded a task force aimed at neutralizing the gang’s leadership and most aggressive members, similar to attacking the queen of a hive rather than casting a wide net over the entire gang of 200+ members.

With strategic precision, Siddall and his team executed a series of arrests, honing in on the gang’s hierarchy and top 15 or so enforcers. The result was a significant disruption to the gang’s operations, effectively reducing violent crime rates in the area to nearly zero for years following the arrests.

Siddall’s success in dismantling the Blythe Street Gang serves as a testament to his belief in the power of focused law enforcement strategies. By identifying and apprehending the key instigators of violence, He and his staff demonstrated that it is possible to disrupt criminal networks without resorting to mass arrests that often lead to disproportionate incarceration rates.

“Levels of violence increase when gang leadership becomes ambitious,” Siddall told The Blade. “But when you take away the muscle, the gang goes into hibernation.”

04 • FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

Addressing Los Angeles County’s Homelessness Crisis Secondly, Siddall advocates for a more proactive approach to addressing homelessness, criticizing the incumbent DA’s lack of engagement on the issue.

He also praised the groundbreaking work of Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb, whose creation of a homeless court, as outlined by Assembly Bill 67, has garnered widespread acclaim for its effectiveness in providing comprehensive support to unhoused individuals facing nonviolent charges.

“It’s a less threatening environment,” Siddall pointed out noting: “It brings the justice system to the community.”

Sponsored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi , AB 67, aims to establish a Homeless Courts Pilot Program, offering comprehensive community-based services for chronically homeless individuals entangled with the criminal justice system. The bill is designed to operate until January 1, 2029, with administration overseen by the Judicial Council.

Key provisions include the dismissal of specified charges upon program completion, the provision of housing assistance, and support from a dedicated county representative. Eligible applicants, including cities and counties, must adhere to program requirements and submit detailed plans for grant funding.

Webb’s innovative approach involves setting up a monthly courthouse in a parking lot, surrounded by service providers, to offer immediate assistance to unhoused individuals facing nonviolent charges. Siddall envisions replicating this model county-wide, leveraging Assembly Bill 67 to establish Homeless Courts Pilot Programs in various cities and counties, providing crucial resources and diversion programs to prevent recidivism.

Highlighting the success of the Redondo Beach homeless court, Siddall stressed the importance of offering comprehensive support to individuals caught in the cycle of homelessness and nonviolent crime, ultimately aiming to transition them into stable housing and productive lives.

Siddall outlined the homeless court model’s key features, emphasizing immediate assistance and wraparound services. With housing navigators, mental health care providers, addiction specialists, and public defenders on-site, the homeless court offers a holistic approach to addressing the complex needs of unhoused individuals.

Siddall noted that one of the most significant barriers to stability for unhoused individuals is the lack of identification. The homeless court’s partnership with the California Department of Motor Vehicles streamlines the process, enabling individuals to obtain crucial identification documents expeditiously.

The success of the Redondo Beach homeless court is evident in its outcomes. According to recent data, a noteworthy 79% of homeless court defendants typically attend their court appearances, a rate that is deemed notably high. Furthermore, an impressive 57% of these defendants have been successfully relocated to temporary or

CALIFORNIA permanent housing, indicating a substantial achievement in meeting the housing requirements of the unhoused populace.

Moreover, in Redondo Beach, the count of unhoused individuals witnessed a decline from 176 in 2020 to 99 in 2022, hinting at a plausible association between the adoption of homeless courts and a decrease in homelessness within the region.

Siddall affirmed that the Redondo Beach homeless court represents a positive paradigm shift in “our approach to homelessness and criminal justice.”

Siddall remarked that he stands behind the Tiny Home model as a means to provide safe, clean, and private temporary housing to individuals in need.

Addressing challenges dealing with Mental Illness in the criminal justice system Siddall aims to address the intersection of mental illness and criminal justice, advocating for the establishment of long-term infrastructure to accommodate individuals with mental health needs.

Expressing concern over the lack of appropriate facilities for mentally ill individuals within the current system, Siddall proposes the creation of specialized lockdown facilities akin to state mental hospitals of the past. By separating violent offenders from those with mental illness, he aims to ensure the safety and well-being of both populations while providing necessary treatment and support.

Rehabilitation Over Incarceration

paid off as the individual successfully distanced himself from gang life. He secured employment at UPS, established a family, and ultimately found success, a testament to Siddall’s belief in rehabilitation and second chances.

Siddall’s dedication to his client’s rehabilitation journey exemplifies the broader efforts to address underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior he told the Blade.

Personal journey, from a family of immigrants In addition to his policy proposals, Siddall opened up about his personal journey, citing his experiences as a gay father and a member of marginalized communities as driving forces behind his commitment to reforming the criminal justice system. Reflecting on his upbringing in a family of immigrants.

Siddall’s family background, deeply rooted in public service by both parents, provides him with a unique perspective on the issues facing Los Angeles. Raised by a mother who served as a U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner and a father who worked as a deputy public defender, Siddall’s upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of justice and community responsibility throughout his 17-year career at the DA’s office. Siddall said he is further motivated after witnessing his mother’s pioneering role as a Latina lawyer throughout his childhood. Siddall emphasized the importance of empathy with his mother’s situation in his approach to justice.

“When you see how our system works and how few resources are spent in these marginalized communities, it makes you want to fight for a better future,” Siddall told the Blade, underscoring his dedication to advocating for disenfranchised communities.

Siddall’s platform also emphasizes his dedication to curbing gun violence, proposing the establishment of a specialized unit and fostering collaboration with federal agencies to enhance prosecution efforts.

“I am not an abolitionist,” Siddall told the Blade. “There are certain people who need to be in prison. But there are other individuals who can be diverted. You can work to get them out of the system so that they do not become repeat customers.”

Siddall recounted one instance wherein he played a pivotal role in rehabilitating a gang member, showcasing the transformative potential of compassionate advocacy Stark alternative to the status quo within the criminal justice system.

Assigned to handle a surge in crimes within Nickerson Siddall advocates for a balanced approach that prioritizGardens, a sprawling public housing complex in Watts, es public safety while advocating for sustainable reforms.

Los Angeles, Siddall encountered a challenge involving His campaign emphasizes reducing recidivism, ending gang affiliation. In this instance, Siddall faced a pivotal mass incarceration, and addressing the root causes of decision regarding a member of the Bounty Hunter Bloods gang.

Amidst the backdrop of one of Los Angeles’ most notorious gang-ridden areas, Siddall identified three individuals, two deeply entrenched in gang activities and a third less immersed.

Recognizing the potential for rehabilitation, Siddall feared that incarcerating this third individBuys T.D.s and Buys/Lends on Partial Interests ual could perpetuate a cycle of criminal behavior, creating a “career criminal,” in the place of a rehabilitated citizen.

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With a background in prosecuting violent criminals and advocating for responsible reforms, Siddall’s platform focuses on working with the Violence Reduction Division and collaborating with law enforcement agencies to target violent offenders. He also emphasizes the need for greater investment in mental health and addiction services, proposing a new county facility for treating violent individuals with mental health conditions.

Siddall’s campaign has garnered support from the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, positioning him as a candidate committed to fighting crime, restoring public trust, and enacting responsible reforms for a safer and healthier Los Angeles County.

Siddall has tackled complex cases in underserved neighborhoods, emphasizing the defendant’s resilience and genuine remorse where warranted. His proactive approach to law enforcement has not only resulted in successful prosecutions but also advocated for sentence reductions in cases of genuine rehabilitation.

In contrast to Gascón’s approach to mental health and homelessness, Siddall advocates for a more proactive approach.

As the race for District Attorney heats up, Siddall’s campaign presents a stark alternative to the status quo, promising a safer Los Angeles for all residents. With his track record, bold initiatives, and widespread support, Siddall says he embodies the values of integrity, fairness, and resilience, offering a path forward toward a brighter future for Los Angeles County and its residents.

SIMHA HADDAD

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NATIONAL

Annise Parker stepping down from LGBTQ+ Victory Fund as well as Houston’s second female WASHINGTON - Former Houston, mayor.

Texas Mayor Annise Parker on Friday “I first told the board of directors last announced her planned departure July that 2024 would be my final year from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and at Victory,” Parker said. “I gave them a LGBTQ Victory Institute — organizalong runway because I am immensely tions that are, respectively, dedicated proud of Victory’s growth and accomto electing more LGBTQ candidates plishments during my tenure and do not to public office and providing training want to endanger its continued success.” and other programs to them.

She added that the organizations The organizations are, respectivehave “started the careful search for my ly, dedicated to electing more LGBTQ Victory Fund President and CEO ANNISE PARKER speaks at the International LGBTQ successor” and when one is selected, candidates to public office and proLeaders Conference on Dec. 2, 2022.

“I plan to spend a couple months with viding training and other programs to (Blade photo by Michael Key) the new leader to ensure a smooth them. transition.”

Parker shared the news in an email, Under Parker’s leadership, she noted, annual budgets which the Washington Blade has seen, to LGBTQ appointed were doubled along with staff capacity while contributions to officials, indicating that she would make a public announcecandidates increased fourfold. ment on Monday.

“The number of elected officials we serve increased from “Thirty years ago, I began my journey with LGBTQ+ Victory 450 to over 1270,” she said. “We launched our Women Out to Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, first as a supporter, but Win fellowship, relaunched our Political Appointments Prothen as a campaign trainee, a nine-time endorsed candigram and drastically expanded the number of countries we date, a beneficiary of its elected officials network and a David work in around the globe.”

Bohnett Leaders Fellow,” she said.

Parker stressed that “this is not goodbye,” adding, “I have “Yet it is the last six years, serving as President & CEO, that many months of work ahead in an election year that is critical I began to fully appreciate the role Victory plays in moving for our community and our democracy.” equality forward in the U.S. and around the globe.”

She did not immediately return a request from the Blade With the start of her mayoral tenure in 2010, Parker befor additional comment, but the Victory Fund shared a press came one of the first openly LGBTQ mayors of a major city

release the group had planned to share on Monday, which credited Parker’s leadership for the organizations’ growth.

“Mayor Parker is the steady, experienced leader we needed during a consequential time in American politics – and the dramatic growth in our endorsed candidates and Election Day victories are clear evidence of her undeniable success,” Wade Rakes II and Lynn Greer, chairs of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute boards of directors, respectively, said in the news release.

“At a time when democracy is under attack in the U.S. and around the world, our mission to build more inclusive and representative governments is the antidote, because democracies flourish when people see themselves as part of it,” they said. “Mayor Parker’s leadership made Victory a consequential player in our elections and democracy and we look forward to her continued leadership in this critical year ahead.”

Parker also shared a statement in the release: “It’s been an honor of a lifetime to represent Victory Fund and Victory Institute in every corner of the United States and in countries around the globe – and to work with the candidates and elected officials who are on the frontlines fighting for the communities they represent and our collective democracy,” she said.

“Over the past six years, Victory was instrumental in the transformational growth of LGBTQ+ representation in governments, and I am confident our deeply talented staff, board members and critical supporters will continue to grow our work and impact.”

CHRISTOPHER KANE

FBI: Schools are the third most popular location for hate crimes

FBI Director CHRISTOPHER WRAY (Screenshot/NBC News)

WASHINGTON - Statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday reveal that schools were the third most popular spot for bias-motivated

hate crimes that were reported between 2018-2022.

Primary and secondary schools and university campuses accounted for 10 percent of all hate crimes reported in 2022, while the first and second most common locations were homes and residences and highways, roads and alleyways, the FBI said in its report.

Data comes from the agency’s Uniform Crime Reporting program. The FBI’s annual crime report from 2022, which was released in October, found that anti-LGBTQ hate crimes rose precipitously from the previous year.

Specifically, there with a 13.8 percent increase in crimes motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation and a 32.9 percent increase in crimes motivated by the victim’s gender identity.

In the five years covered in the FBI’s report on Monday, anti-LGBTQ crimes were the third most common, behind those perpetrated against Black or African American victims and those targeting those from certain religious groups, most often Jewish people.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Virginia police arrest two men in theft of Pride flags ARLINGTON, Va. - Police in Arlington announced on Friday evening that they have arrested two men for allegedly stealing LGBTQ Pride flags from the home of a lesbian couple who reported their flags were stoBooking photograph of MATlen on five separate days THEW HENSHAW (via Arlington County, Virginia, Police Department.) between September 2023 and January 2024.

In a statement, police said they charged Matthew Henshaw, 20, of Fort Myer, Va., with three counts of Unlawful Entry – Bias Motivate and three counts of Petit Larceny for the flag thefts that occurred Sept. 16, Sept. 30 and Jan. 27. The statement says

he was released on a secured bond.

The statement says Arlington police also arrested Joseph Digregorio, 23, of Bay Shore, N.Y., on one count of Petit Larceny for the flag theft that occurred on Jan. 21. He was released on a summons, according to the police statement.

“This remains an active criminal investigation,” the police statement says. “Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or ACPDTIpline@ arlingtonva.us.”

Police spokesperson Ashley Savage declined to disclose whether Henshaw is a member of the U.S. military, possibly the U.S. Army, in response to a question from the Washington Blade. The police announcement says Henshaw is “of Fort Myer, Va.,” which is a U.S. Army base located a short distance from the house where the lesbian couple lives and

06 • FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

where the flags were stolen. The couple lives in the 200 block of South Courthouse Road, according to information released by police.

Online court records show that Henshaw was scheduled to appear for an arraignment at Arlington General District Court at 2 p.m. on Monday.

“Within hours after it would come down, we would put it back up,” Michaelle Logan, 30, told the Washington Post in describing the repeated thefts of the couple’s Pride flag.

“It was just a constant wave of putting it back up and it being taken down,” she told the police.

Logan and her partner, Jenna Burnett, 27, also told the Post that their home security camera captured images of a man wearing a cowboy hat pulling down the flag on two of the five times it was removed.

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Amber Glenn: 1st out LGBTQ+ USA women’s figure skating champ

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Out bisexual and pansexual figure skater Amber Glenn won the U.S. women’s figure skating championship Friday, becoming the first queer woman to take the gold medal.

“Being the first openly queer women’s champion is incredible,” said Glenn in a post-competition interview with NBC Sports. She reflected on what’s changed since her coming out in 2019.

“When I came out initially, I was terrified. I was scared it would affect my scores or something, but I didn’t care. “It was worth it to see the amount of young people who felt more comfortable in their environments at the rink.”

To celebrate her historic victory, Glenn posed for photog-

raphers with the gold medal around her neck and the Progress Pride flag held high and proud above her shoulders.

Glenn, 24, won the silver medal in 2021 and the bronze last year. At the beginning of her free skate routine on Friday, she landed a complicated triple Axel, but then Glenn slipped-up two major jumps.

Defending champion Isabeau Levito also struggled, falling three times during her own routine. In the end, Glenn finished with 210.46 points to win the title. Silver medalist Josephine Lee scored 204.13 points and Levito’s 200.68 points earned her the bronze.

Given she had a rough go in this, her ninth competition, she told NBC she was in “utter shock” to have beaten Levito

for the title.

“I know that both Isabeau and I are capable of so much more, but just the shock that all my hard work has paid off and the realization of what more I can do,” she said.

That hard work started with her recovery from a concussion and broken bone around her eye, suffered when she collided with another skater at the beginning of her season.

On Instagram, Glenn’s sponsor called the victory a win not just for her but “for the LGBTQ+ community.”

“I don’t have to try and hide the sight of me,” said Glenn.

“Just because you have this aspect doesn’t mean you can’t be a top athlete.”

DAWN ENNIS

What’s the queer quotient for the 2024 Summer Olympics?

PARIS — Just 172 days remain until France hosts the Summer Games in the famed City of Light. Questions also remain about whether all the colors of the Pride flag will be inclusively illuminated when the Olympics return to Paris for the first time in a century.

The Los Angeles Blade has compiled this brief guide to the major areas of interest, with the intent to preview what queer fans can expect from this year’s event: • How many out LGBTQ+ athletes will be representing both their countries and their identities and orientations • Restrictions on out transgender athletes, and • What the International Olympic Committee is saying — so far — about athletes displaying Pride flags and rainbow colors.

All of this is very subject to change before July 26, the opening day of the Summer Games.

Looking Back At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, 36 out athletes competed among the 2,871 entered into competition, as the Los Angeles Blade reported. If the LGBTQ+ athletes were counted as one team, they would have placed 12th in terms of medal count.

That set a record, although the numbers couldn’t compare to the last Summer Games, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo — which were held in 2021 because of the pandemic. A historic showing in those Summer Games featured 186 out athletes, who would have ranked 11th in the medal tally if grouped together.

Looking Ahead Sha’Carri Richardson, the fastest woman in the world, will represent Team USA at the Summer Games. As the Blade reported last August, Richardson set a world record for the 100m by crossing the finish line in 10.65 seconds. She identifies as bisexual.

Robbie Manson, the out gay rower for New Zealand, announced he qualified for Paris last September. And, to the delight of many, has remained active on OnlyFans as well, reported Out. Manson came out in 2014.

Emma Twigg will also be competing as a rower in Paris, defending the Olympic gold medal she won in Tokyo in 2021, according to Stuff. Twigg is gay, married to her wife, Charlotte and together they have a son, Tommy, born in 2022.

Campbell Harrison of Australia announced on Instagram in November that he qualified to compete in the category of rock climbing for the Summer Games. He came out as gay in 2021.

Yulimar Rojas holds a world record in triple jump and was an Olympic champion in Tokyo and has already qualified to represent Venezuela in track and field in Paris. Rojas told Infobae she dreams of being “the first to open the gap of 16 [meters], it’s like another galaxy.”

Kadeisha Buchanan will lead Team Canada in their defense of their Gold Medal for Women’s Soccer in her third appearance at the Games this summer, as Humber News reported.

Quinn, the first trans nonbinary Olympic Gold Medalist, competed as a midfielder in Canada’s soccer qualifier last September and is expected back on the pitch in Paris.

Sadly, it looks as though Australia and Chelsea soccer star Sam Kerr is likely to miss Paris, because of a ruptured ACL. She suffered the knee injury during training three weeks ago in Morocco, reports the official Olympics website.

There are several other out LGBTQ+ athletes who are likely to qualify. Review the Official 2024 Olympics calendar of qualifiers by clicking here. The Blade will keep you posted as we learn more.

Transgender Competitors The International Olympic Committee decided after the last Summer Games to issue a new “Framework for Fairness” in November 2021, which basically punted decisions on inclusion to individual sports organizations. As the Blade reported in June 2022, the International Swimming Federation, once known as FINA and now World Aquatics, decided that trans athletes must have completed their medical transition before the age of 12 to avoid “unfair advantages.”

Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, was the first out transgender athlete to compete at any Olympic Games. She made history in Tokyo, but her performance in the women’s +87kg category wasn’t what got her name into the record books. At 43, Hubbard was the oldest competitor at the 32nd Olympic Games, and after three unsuccessful lift attempts, her participation was reduced to an abduction that did not last more than 10 minutes. Given the new rules, she won’t be back in 2024.

Following World Aquatics’ lead, Union Cycliste Internationale — the organizers of World Cycling in Switzerland — the

08 • FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

Disc Golf Pro Tour, World Athletics, the British Triathlon Federation and the International Rugby League have changed or adopted new “transgender participation policies” that effectively ban trans women from competing with cisgender women.

World Aquatics has since added a new “open category” in which anyone can compete, aimed at providing a way for trans swimmers to compete. But since only cisgender women can compete in the category that is designated for “women,” advocates for trans athletes consider that discriminatory. NCAA Division I Champion Lia Thomas has challenged World Aquatics at Court for Arbitration for Sport, as the Blade has reported.

Pride House As has been a tradition at almost every Olympics — the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia being the most memorable exception — Paris will have a Pride House. “A space that will be open to everyone, where it will be possible to celebrate its community and its pride,” according to the official website.

The Pride House will be set up at Parc de la Villette, “just a short distance from competition venues such as the La Chapelle Arena, Stade de France and even La Concorde,” the site explains.

Symbols of Pride Beyond the Pride House and other “protected” locations in Paris, the International Olympic Committee has told the LGBTQ+ sports site, Outsports that it is committed to ensuring all athletes “have equal opportunities to express themselves” by holding up Pride flags or other rainbow apparel in line with the recently revised wording to its Olympic Charter and updated guidelines for participants.

You can read the changes to the charter, enacted in October 2023, by clicking here. Unchanged is the fundamental principle that “the practice of sport is a human right.”

The IOC said assessments will continue to be made on a “case-by-case” basis, according to the report.

Paralympics The 2024 Paralympic Games are set for Aug. 28 through Sept, 8, and out LGBTQ+ athletes are again expected to compete. Click here for more information about those games.

DAWN ENNIS

INTERNATIONAL

Alberta, Canada to block gender care and forcibly out trans kids ALBERTA, Canada - The leader of Canada’s province of Alberta announced a slate of new anti-LGBTQ+ policies in a video released on social media yesterday prompting outcry from queer activists who say the new policies will be the most restrictive on Alberta Premier DANqueer and trans youth in Canada.

IELLE SMITH responds In a seven-minute video uploadto criticism following the announcement of ed to X, Premier Danielle Smith annew policies affecting nounced that “top and bottom” surtrans youth. (Screenshot/ geries would be restricted to those YouTube CTV) aged 18 and older, while trans youth under age 16 would no longer be able to access hormone therapies. Genital surgeries are already not generally medically recommended or performed on minors in Canada.

Trans students under age 16 will need parental permission before using a name or pronoun different from their legal name in school, while students 16 and up will have their parents notified of any name and pronoun changes.

The premier says the province will also work to restrict women’s and girls’ sports to biological females, while also encouraging new coed leagues that trans students would be allowed to play in.

Additionally, under the new policy, parents will need to be notified and given the right to opt their children out before any classroom discussion on sexuality and gender, while “third party materials” on the sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity will need to be vetted by the Ministry of Education before they can be used in class.

It’s unclear at this point how the new policies will be enacted or enforced, but Smith has said that she wants the policies to be in place by the fall. Alberta’s Child and Youth Advocate, an office of the legislature, was not briefed on the policy before it was announced.

In her video, Smith also announces that the government will attempt to recruit doctors who can perform gender-confirming surgeries to Alberta for adult care – currently, those seeking gender surgeries must travel to Quebec for care, nearly 2000 miles away. Smith says that about 100 people receive gender-confirming surgeries annually, about a quarter of whom are aged 18-25.

Smith also announces that child protection laws will be strictly enforced to protect trans children from abusive parents.

However, in her follow up press conference today, Smith seemed to be unaware of what gender care involves, erroneously suggesting that people who undergo gender-affirming care cannot have sex or reproduce.

The Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy group Egale and the Canadian Civil Liberties Union quickly announced that it would be filing a legal action against the policy.

“This is a direct and unprecedented attack on 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians, and trans and gender diverse youth in particular. The draconian measures announced run directly counter to expert guidance and evidence, violate the constitutional rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people, and will lead to irreparable harm and suffering,” Egale says in a statement. “The Government of Alberta is playing politics with some of the most vulnerable members of our society: trans and gender diverse youth, attacking them for cheap political points. We will not stand for it.”

The policies were also quickly denounced by Women & Sport Canada and the Alberta Teacher’s Association, the Alberta New Democratic Party, and the mayor of Calgary.

Federal cabinet ministers were also quick to denounce the policy, but cautioned that until the policy is actually brought forward, there isn’t anything for the government to take action against.

“As a parent, my heart breaks for young 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Alberta who are being targeted by @ABDanielleSmith’s harmful and misguided policy. To trans and gender diverse youth: please know that we - and so many Canadians - stand with you and will stand up for your rights,” Justice Minister Arif Virani wrote on X. Trans activist Fae Johnstone, founder of the advocacy group Queer Momentum denounced the policy and called on allies and the federal government to do more to protect trans youth.

“Conservative premiers are bullying trans kids. This whole issue has cast aside the humanity of transgender young people. Kids deserve better than this. Trans young people deserve to grow up in safe and supportive environments,” Johnstone wrote on X. Alberta’s new policies around trans youth and sexual orientation in schools are the most restrictive to be proposed in Canada but follow a growing trend among conservative-run

provinces.

The policy around parental notification and consent surrounding name and pronoun use mirrors similar policies introduced in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick last year. The governments of Ontario and Quebec also announced similar policies would be forthcoming last year, but have not announced them yet.

When a judge blocked the Saskatchewan policy as likely unconstitutional, the Saskatchewan government passed a bill that allows the policy to override the Charter of Rights, using a constitutional procedure that has seen growing use by Canada’s right-wing provincial governments in recent years. Smith did not rule out using the “notwithstanding” clause to shield the policy from judicial review.

There’s little evidence that these policies are popular among the mainstream in Canada. Last year, Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government lost an election after campaigning on introducing a “parents’ rights” policy around trans students.

New Brunswick will go to the polls later this year.

In the northern Alberta town of Westlock, voters will weigh in on banning Pride flags on municipal property this month.

A hardcore base of anti-LGBT activists has grown in Canada in recent years, evolving out of the anti-vax and anti-lockdown movements, and it has been courted by conservative politicians. Smith welcomed these activists at the United Conservative Party of Alberta Convention last year, where they passed policy platforms calling for these policies.

Anti-trans activists also passed policy platforms at the federal Conservative Party convention last year calling for bans on trans people using women’s bathrooms and restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Neither the federal Conservative Party nor its leader Pierre Poilievre have addressed the platform since it was passed. Smith has been explicitly courting the radical right for the last several years, recently appearing in public events across the province with disgraced former Fox News Host Tucker Carlson, disgraced transphobic former University of Toronto professor and current social media troll Jordan Peterson, and convicted fraudster and former owner of the right-wing National Post newspaper Conrad Black. (Black was pardoned

by Donald Trump in 2019).

ROB SALERNO

Out in the World: LGBTQ+ news from Europe & Asia

UNITED KINGDOM

MANCHESTER, UK - On Friday, the judge presiding over the trial of two teenagers convicted in the brutal stabbing death of trans teen Brianna Ghey, a crime that shook the North of England, sentenced the pair to life in prison.

Manchester Crown Court Justice Dame Amanda Yip sentenced Scarlett Jenkinson to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years and Eddie Ratcliffe to life with a minimum of 20 years, noting that the pair, both 16, took part in a “brutal, planned murder” that was “sadistic in nature” and motivated by “hostility towards Brianna because of her transgender identity.”

Brianna Ghey was a 16 year old transgender girl, TikTok creator, and a “beacon of positivity” according to her friends.

She would often film videos set to music while showing off her makeup or walking in a park. It was in one of these parks that her life was taken in in February of this year.

SCARLETT JENKINSON and EDDIE RATCLIFFE, both 16, were sentenced sentenced to life in prison for the brutal hate crime killing of trans teen Brianna in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, on February 11, 2023. (Screenshot/ITV)

In the immediate aftermath of her murder, countless peo-

ple mourned for her and decried the senseless violence. Her TikToks became makeshift memorials with millions of likes and views.

Many people considered the idea that anti-trans sentiment and rampant transphobia in the United Kingdom may have played a role in her murder.

PinkNewsUK reported that as he read his victim impact statement at Manchester Crown Court, Brianna’s father Peter Spooner described Jenkinson and Ratcliffe as “pure evil.”

“Now my world has been torn apart. Justice may have been done but no amount of time in prison will be enough for these monsters,” he said.

“I cannot call them children because that makes them sound naive or vulnerable, which they are not – they are pure evil. Brianna was the vulnerable one.”

BRODY LEVESQUE

LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • 09

CHRISTOPHER T. CONNER is assistant professor of Sociology at the University of Missouri. They are author of numerous scholarly publications, including ‘The Gayborhood: From Sexual Revolution to Cosmopolitan Spectacle.’

FLETCHER JACKSON is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Missouri, Columbia in Religious Studies and are co-teaching a class in spring 2024.

Their research is at the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and queer visibility.

Are raids on LGBTQ bars making a comeback in 2024?

Public officials, law enforcement targeting members of the community There’s been a noticeable uptick in police harassment since 2023, that began with legislators proposing bills aimed at LGBTQ people. More recently police and other public officials have seemingly gone out of their way to target the LGBTQ community. This includes spaces in “red states,” like Missouri where police officers arrested the owners of Bar:PM (a leather bar in St. Louis) after they wrecked their police cruiser into it. “Blue states” however, are not immune to this — as was the case in Seattle where authorities raided The Cuff and The Seattle Eagle citing them for “lewd conduct” because of a bartender’s exposed nipple, and patrons wearing jockstraps.

As many LGBTQ activists are already aware, federal policymakers have been enacting legislation at the local and federal level targeting the LGBTQ community. Among those at the federal level is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal in May of 2023. Endorsed by President Joe Biden, the bill is a bipartisan initiative to “protect” kids from harmful content online by placing a responsibility on online social media platforms to regulate content and services. Republicans have noted, if passed, the bill would be used to protect “minor children from the Transgender [sic] in this culture and that influence.”

While KOSA seems to have stalled, despite urging from the Biden administration to pass it, some states have begun passing their own versions of the bill — or by enforcing laws at LGBTQ venues like The Cuff in Seattle. Utah’s obscenity laws has even caused PornHub to pull out of states passing these laws, due to their vagueness.

While some may dismiss these concerns as overblown, it seems clear that it is only one part of a larger strategy aimed at curtailing LGBTQ expression. The irony is that those espousing “freedom” are the same ones passing censorship laws. This gradual

ratchet effect, which began last summer by targeting children’s books and LGBTQ persons online, has now shifted into something targeting LGBTQ institutions. It’s the same rhetoric used in the 1960s—which included government produced propaganda directed at LGBTQ people painting them as a social contagion dangerous to kids. At the height of this moral panic were laws prohibiting positive depictions of LGBTQ persons, the impact of which is still being felt today through stereotypes and negative framing.

Even in states that aren’t adding to this moral panic, KOSA has provided the framework by which states can pass vague “obscenity” laws that appear neutral, but in practice are aimed at LGBTQ people. Structural forms of discrimination also exist online as social media platforms act as determiners of what is allowable under their guidelines. In reality, moderation disproportionality impacts LGBTQ people, and especially trans women online. According to a recent study, content moderation against trans people was roughly five times more to occur than cisgender counterparts. These facts and figures resonate with trans content creators we spoke with, like Polly People who was recently de-platformed for “inappropriate attire” — the same attire that is promoted by cisgender women on the same platform.

Whether it’s jockstrap night at the local leather bar, trans content creators trying to express themselves, or protests of expressions of sexuality at Pride or events at Folsom, we are quickly descending into an age of marginalization that many LGBTQ people haven’t experienced since before Stonewall. While some of the established forms of collective organizing and community have been forgotten or lost, new forms are emerging to fight against these laws and regulations designed to further marginalize and render invisible the lives of LGBTQ Americans.

10 • FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

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VIEWPOINT

Calif. LGBTQ Senate forum missed an opportunity for straight talk WEST HOLLYWOOD - One powerful but overlooked moment at Sunday night’s Grammys was Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.’s remarks about the unifying power of music.

“Every one of us, no matter where we’re from, is united by the shared experience of music,” Mason said. “Take this string quartet — as individuals they sound really good. But together they achieve something beautiful they could never do apart. These musicians of Israeli, Palestinian and Arab descent are here, playing together. Now is the time for us, for humanity, to play together, to come together.”

The moment underscored my concern about how the Israel-Hamas War will scuttle efforts to defeat Donald Trump’s dictatorial run for the presidency. As intersectional LGBTQ people who span the width, depth and breadth of humanity, we must resist another devastating era where Silence = Death.

But no one addressed the loud protesters outside the LA LGBT Center on Saturday afternoon when the Center, Equality California and TransLatin@ Coalition sponsored a forum with US Senate candidates Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee. The 15 or so protesters held banners saying, “Your Constituents Are Calling: Ceasefire!” and “Jews Say No to Genocide.” Their chants of “Ceasefire Now!” disrupted the forum and presumably those with a conscience.

It felt like the candidates wanted to respond. But when the same questions were asked of all three candidates, it became clear the forum had a binding format.

Too bad. I wanted to hear the candidates’ assessment of the war, their knowledge of how LGBTQ people are treated in the Middle East and how they propose to protect our people if elected to the Senate.

I was also surprised to read in co-moderator Dustin Gardiner’s Politico column that: “Democrats in Sacramento, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have been skeptical about more directly taking on conservative school boards’ transgender policies and potentially further inflaming tensions around the issue.” All three candidates said they have been and will continue to fight these school board outing policies.

But here’s the thing: we are a people, not an issue, as Gardiner framed it. All three candidates demonstrated that they are comfortable with LGBTQ people — but so are Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta who have repeatedly issued statements admonishing the anti-LGBTQ school boards. Bonta sued Chino Valley Unified School District over its trans outing policy.

“California is closely watching the actions of malicious actors seeking to ban books, whitewash history, and demonize the LGBTQ+ community in Temecula and across the state. If the law is violated, there will be repercussions,” Newsom said.

Remember - this is the guy who, in 2004 as mayor of San Francisco, drew the ire of Sen. Diane Feinstein and other Democrats for opening city hall to same-sex couples who wanted to get married. He officiated the Feb. 12, 2004 wedding of lesbian icons Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon and did so again in 2008 when marriage equality was legalized. He loved those old lesbians.

Backrow: Los Angeles Blade journalist SIMHA HADDAD, Politico’s California Playbook columnist DUSTIN GARDINER, Executive Director of Equality California TONY HOANG. Front Row: Democratic U.S. Reps. ADAM SCHIFF, BARBARA LEE, and KATIE PORTER, BAMBY SALCEDO, CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition & LA LGBT Center CEO JOE HOLLENDONER. (Photo Credit: Equality California/LA LGBT Center)

But if Gardiner has some inside knowledge that refutes that widely held belief, then surely he has a responsibility to let the LGBTQ community know and to deeply question political candidates to see if they deserve our trust.

We’ve been betrayed before — most famously by Bill Clinton who campaigned in 1991/1992 on lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the military. But once elected, he was threatened by Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn and anti-gay Republicans who came up with the “separate but equal” policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Ask out Black gay vet Steve Dunwoody about serving under DADT and being closeted during war time. He later served in the Obama White House when the policy was repealed and is now running for Schiff’s seat in the 30 Congressional District. He was at the forum with longtime Center Board member Don Thomas.

Let’s face it: MAGA Republicans want us erased or dead. And Democrats assume the LGBTQ vote will go to them — never considering that the painful divisiveness in the country has eroded our trust in democracy, too.

We need to not be invisible. I know Schiff sees us — I’ve covered him since 2014. I’m glad Porter and Lee came to the Center to see us. And, to echo CEO Mason, it felt like every one of us at the forum, including the protesters outside, were united by the shared experience of wanting to defeat Donald Trump.

But for some of us, this is deeply personal and existential: after decades of fighting for equality, I do not want to die a second-class citizen. This election will determine that.

We need to be recognized as a people; we need to ask hard questions to see who gets us, who needs educating or who we let go; and most of all, we need to fight like hell so that one day the Declaration of Independence will truly apply to our intersectional LGBTQ people, too.

KAREN OCAMB is the former news editor of the Los Angeles Blade. She is an award-winning journalist who, upon graduating from Skidmore College, started her professional career at CBS News in New York.

LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • FEBRUARY 09, 2024 • 11

Valentine’s Day gifts for the queers you love From pasta and chocolate to an Aspen getaway

By MIKEY ROX

wood) in potted soil and enjoy striking flowers and fragrant herbs in one to four weeks. $15, Amazon.com

Share the love on Feb. 14 with our thoughtful Valentine’s gift picks for everyone you like and lust.

Centrolina V-Day Pasta Kit

W Aspen Getaway

Washington, D.C.-based Centrolina’s seasonally inspired restaurant menu gets the delivered-to-your-door treatment with Chef Amy Brandwein’s holiday gift baskets featuring four handmade pastas and from-scratch sauces, including heartshaped beet ravioli with ricotta and lemon butter, a mushroom and black truffle ragu, sunchoke tagliolini and oyster cacio pepe, and chestnut pappardelle, among other elevated-Italian recipes that you and your lil’ meatball can whip up on date night. $175, CentrolinaDC.com

Missed Aspen Gay Ski Week? No sweat. You’ll fight fewer crowds as the season winds down – without compromising your commitment to luxury – during a late-winter getaway to the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains at the W Aspen.

Book unforgettable outdoor adventures, like heliskiing and dog sledding, with the property’s always-available concierge; spend après hour on the rooftop WET deck before diving into delicious dishes at onsite restaurant 39 Degrees; see and be seen at Ponyboy, the property’s cocktail-focused modern speakeasy rooted in New York City nightlife; and pour yourself a nightcap from your in-room mini bar before relaxing in the suite’s deep soaking tub – because, ya know, all in a day’s work.

Marriot.com

La Maison du Chocolat Heart-shaped candy clichés are much more palatable when the contents within are made in Paris instead of Hershey, Pa., and your intended will be sufficiently satisfied with La Maison du Chocolat’s selection of premium confections – including melt-in-your-mouth ganaches, pralinés and bouchées, oh my – available in festive and indulgent 14- and 44-piece boxes. $60-$140, LaMaisonDuChocolat.com

Nexgrill Ora Pizza Oven Not a fan of fancy dining out? Slip into those grey sweats he won’t let you wear in public, top off the Veuve, and fire up Nexgrill’s Ora 12 portable propane pizza oven wherein a totemp cordierite baking stone will cook your personalized pies to perfection at up to 900 degrees. That’s burnin’ love, baby. $299, HomeDepot.com

‘Spread the Love’ Plantable Pencils SproutWorld’s set-of-eight Love Edition pencils set themselves up for seed-spreading jokes given Cupid’s context, but the real sentiment is sweeter: Plant the lead-free, graphite writing utensils (engraved with romantic quotes on certified

Centrolina V-Day Pasta Kit

‘Just Happy to Be Here’ YA Novel Have a they/them in your life excited to expand their winter

La Maison du Chocolat

Nexgrill Ora Pizza Oven 12 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • FEBRUARY 09, 2024

reading list? Gift a copy of Naomi Kanakia’s newly published YA coming-of-age novel, “Just Happy to Be Here,” about Tara, an Indian-American transgender teenager seeking quiet support and acceptance within her school’s prestigious academic group but instead becomes the center of attention when she draws the ire of administrators and alumni. $16, Amazon.com

Perfect Pairings Set it off this Valentine’s Day with a curated selection of wine and spirits, including the Pale Rosé, created by Sacha Lichine, of Whispering Angel fame; Flat Creek Estate’s red-blend trio, featuring the 2017 Super Texan, 2018 Four Horsemen, and Buttero; Ron Barceló’s Imperial Premium Blend 40th Aniversario rum; and the Bourbon Rosemary cocktail-in-a-can from Spirited Hive. $17-$199

Moon Bath Bomb Stars aligned for that little meet-cute you told everybody about on TikTok, and you can trust the universe to provide ample relaxation when you plop Zodica Perfumery’s Moon Bath Bomb in the tub – there’s a specific formulation for every sign, which promises vibe-setting aromatherapy, activated charcoal for deep cleansing, and skin-soothing olive oil for the self-love glow-up you’ve been waiting for. $18, ZodicaPerfumery.com (Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @ mikeyroxtravels.)

‘Spread the Love’ Plantable Pencils

‘Just Happy to Be Here’ YA Novel

Moon Bath Bomb

W Aspen

GRAMMY AWARDS

Grammys: queer women & their sisters took down the house

LOS ANGELES - When the late, great Ruth Bader Ginsburg was asked when there will be enough women on the Supreme Court, her answer was simple: nine. She stated: “I say when there are nine, people are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.”

RBG did not attend the Grammy’s last night, but her spirit sure did. Women, at long last, dominated, ruled, and killed the night.

Cher, in song a decade ago, declred that “this is a woman’s world,” but there was little evidence that was true, Grammy, and entertainment awards, speaking. In 2018, the Grammys were heavily criticized for lack of female representation across all categories and organizers’ response was for women to “step up.”

Be careful what you wish for boys.

The biggest star of the 2024 Grammys was the collective power of women. They made history, they claimed legacy, and they danced and lipsang to each other’s work. Standing victorious was Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, SZA (the most nominated person of the year), Lainey Wilson, Karol G, boygenius, Kylie Minogue, and Victoria Monet. Oh, yes, and powerhouse Taylor Swift, the superstar from whom Fox News cowers in fear, made history to become the first performer of any gender to win four Best Album of the Year trophies.

In the throng of these powerful women stand a number of both LGBTQ advocates, and queer identifying artists. Cyrus has identified as pansexual, SZA has said lesbian rumors “ain’t wrong”, Phoebe Bridgers (winner of 4 trophies during the night, most of any artist) is lesbian, Victoria Monet is bi and Billie Eilish likes women but doesn’t want to talk about

it. Plus, ask any queer person about Taylor Swift or Kylie Minogue and you are likely to get a love-gush.

Women power was not just owned by the lady award winners. There were the ladies and then there were the Legends.

The first Legend to appear was a surprise. Country singer Luke Combs has a cross-generational hit this year with a cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. When originally released, the song was embraced as a lesbian anthem. When performing Fast Car, surprise, there was Tracy Chapman herself, singing the duet with Combs. The rendition was stunning, sentimental and historic.

Chapman, like many of the night’s female dignitaries, has not been public with her sexuality. Author Alice Walker has spoken of the two of them being lovers, however.

The legend among legends of the night, however, was the one and only Joni Mitchell. Not gay herself, she embodies the concept of an LGBTQ icon, and was accompanied by the very out Brandi Carlile on stage. On her website, Mitchell’s statement to the LGBTQ community reads, “The trick is if you listen to that music and you see me, you’re not getting anything out of it. If you listen to that music and you see yourself, it will probably make you cry and you’ll learn something about yourself and now you’re getting something out of it.”

Mitchell performed her longtime classic Both Sides Now. The emotion, insight and delivery from the now eighty-year old artist, survivor of an aneurism, was nothing short of profound. (To fully appreciate the nuance time can bring, check out the Your Tube video of a Taylor Swift lookalike Mitchell singing the same song to Mama Cass and Mary Travers in 1969). In this latest rendition, Mitchell clearly had an impact

66th GRAMMY Awards, 2024 (Los Angeles Blade graphic) 14 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • FEBRUARY 09, 2024

on Meryl Streep who was sitting in the audience. Talk about the arc of female talent and power.

That arc extended from a today’s lady, Miley Cyrus, to legend Celine Dion as well. Cyrus declared Dion as one of her icons and inspirations early in the evening. Dion appeared, graceful and looking healthy, to present the final, and historic, award of the night at the end of the show.

Legends did not even need to be living to have had an effect on the night. Tributes to Tina Turner and Sinead O’Conner by Oprah, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor and Annie Lennox respectively, proved that not even death could stop these women. As Lennox has musically and famously put it, “Sisters are doing it for themselves.”

Even the content of performances by today’s legends-inthe-making spoke to feminine power. Billie Eilish was honored for, and performed What Was I Made For?, a haunting and searching song that speaks to the soul of womanhood and redefinition in today’s fight for gender rights and expression. While Dua Lipa laid down the gauntlet for mind blowing performance with her rendition of Houdini at the top of the show, Miley Cyrus asserted the power of her anthem Flowers, and pretty much stole the show.

Cyrus had not performed the song on television before, and only three times publicly. She declared in her intro that she was thrilled over the business numbers the song garnered, but she refused to let them define her. As she sang the hit, she scolded the audience, “you guys act like you don’t know the words to this song.” Soon the woman power of the room was singing along with her, from Taylor Swift to Oprah.

They can buy themselves flowers from now on. They don’t need anyone else. Cyrus made that point with the mic drop to cap all mic drops, “And I just won my first Grammy!” she declared as she danced off stage.

Even the squirmiest moment of the night still did not diminish the light of women power, and in fact, underscored it. During his acceptance of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z had a bone to pick with the Grammy voters. He called out the irony that his wife Beyonce had won more Grammys than any other human, but had never won the Best Album of the Year. Yeah, what’s with that?

But then, it brought additional context ultimately to the fact that the winner of the most Grammys individually… is a woman. And to the fact that the winner of the most Best Album of the Year awards… is a woman.

Hopefully this was the night that the Grammys “got it.”

Women are the epicenter of The Creative Force.

Will the other entertainment awards get it soon as well?

We can hope.

Most importantly, in a political world where women’s healthcare is under siege. Will the American voters get it?

A little known band named Little Mix put it this way in their 2019 song “A Woman’s World” “if you can’t see that it’s gotta change Only want the body but not the brains If you really think that’s the way it works You ain’t lived in a woman’s world Just look at how far that we’ve got And don’t think that we’ll ever stop…”

From Grammy’s mouth to the world’s ear.

ROB WATSON

ADVICE

Tips for strengthening your relationship

On Valentine’s Day, recommit to tackling challenges together

By MICHAEL RADKOWSKY Working as a couples therapist, I’ve had many people tell me over the years how difficult they think it is to have a happy relationship. “The divorce rate is over 50%.” “It’s so much work.”

“If it’s this hard, something must be wrong.”

Here’s some very good news: The high divorce rate and the number of failed relationships you see around you need have no impact on the success of your own relationship.

While building and maintaining a healthy relationship takes effort, doing so is possible, and the ongoing challenge of finding creative and loving ways to handle tough challenges can actually be fun.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are my top suggestions for steps you can take to have a great relationship.

Please keep in mind that while these steps are simple in concept, they are not always easy to practice. So don’t get discouraged. And remember that if you consistently work at doing your best in your relationship, doing so will likely get easier over time.

• Strive to always have a sense of humor about how difficult relationships can be.

We’re all different in big ways, so of course it’s hard to share your life with someone at times. If you can keep this in mind instead of thinking “this should be easy,” you will actually have a much easier time navigating the challenges of being coupled.

• Avoid wanting to be “right.” By this, I mean both trying to prove to your partner that you are right, and simply maintaining the belief in your mind that you are right. Wallowing in this belief gives you a sense of superiority, competition, and grievance, all of which are corrosive to your relationship. In addition, if there is a winner in the relationship, there is a loser, and that’s a terrible dynamic for a couple to have.

• Aim to be generous: Be open to saying “yes” to your partner’s requests whenever possible; endeavor not to keep score on who has been more generous; and make it a priority to support your partner’s happiness. And at the same time: • Have a boundary when necessary. When you say “no,” do so from your integrity, not from scorekeeping or spite. This means understanding why something is important to your partner, while at the same time being clear that something different is even more important to you that requires saying “no” to your partner’s request.

• Accept that disappointment is inevitable in every relationship. Because we are all different, we will at times see, understand, think, prioritize, and behave in ways that are very different from our partners, including on important matters. Therefore, it’s inevitable that we will occasionally be gravely disappointed in our partners, just as they will be gravely disappointed in us. That’s life. Accepting this truth can make it easier to bear.

• Advocate for what is important to you. Two caveats, though. First, you don’t want to weigh down the relationship with too many requests. Second, be prepared to not always get what you ask for. It is not your partner’s job to meet your every want.

• Don’t wait for your partner to make the first move when you want something to happen. If both of you are waiting for the other person to go first, nothing will happen.

This includes (but is absolutely not limited to) apologies, initiating sex, planning vacations, and starting hard conversations.

On a related note: • Focus on what you can do to improve a situation, rather than on what your partner is doing, is not doing, or should be doing. We don’t have much power over the other person, but we have a lot of power over ourselves.

A special note for gay men: Open relationships appear to be practically the norm these days, but they are tricky to conduct well. (Yes, monogamy has its own challenges.) Jealousy, messy boundaries, dishonesty, and trust issues get easily activated. If you want to build a strong open relationship, be aware that doing so takes a lot of skill, a lot of honesty, a lot of acceptance, and some ways of keeping your primary relationship special.

Also keep in mind that being a gay man doesn’t automatically provide skills such as: • The solidity of self to be trusting and generous.

• The ability to sense how far boundaries can be pushed without doing too much damage.

• The capacity to transcend feelings of jealousy and pain.

• The strength of character not to idealize outside sex partners.

Wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day! (Michael Radkowsky, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who works with couples and individuals in D.C. He can be found online at michaelradkowsky.com. All identifying information has been changed for reasons of confidentiality. Have a question? Send it to michael@michaelradkowsky.com.)

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